US5880534A - Sequencing system for variable level output inflators - Google Patents
Sequencing system for variable level output inflators Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US5880534A US5880534A US08/895,011 US89501197A US5880534A US 5880534 A US5880534 A US 5880534A US 89501197 A US89501197 A US 89501197A US 5880534 A US5880534 A US 5880534A
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- inflator
- squib
- disposed
- housing
- additional
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
- B60R21/017—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/26—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow
- B60R21/268—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas
- B60R21/272—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/26—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow
- B60R21/263—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow using a variable source, e.g. plural stage or controlled output
- B60R2021/2633—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow using a variable source, e.g. plural stage or controlled output with a plurality of inflation levels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/26—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow
- B60R21/268—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas
- B60R21/272—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators
- B60R2021/2725—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators using a fluid fuel gas generator
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a sequencing system and method for varying the output of airbag inflators, and more particularly, to a system and method for sequencing two or more initiators in an airbag inflator.
- variable stage inflators which tailor the mass flow and total gas output of the airbag inflation device are used to vary the level of inflation.
- One manner of varying inflation levels is to employ separate chambers within the inflator that are capable of being activated either individually or in sequence by an individually associated initiator or squib to affect the desired gas flow rates. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,751, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
- the preferred method of activation is by an electrical signal that is sent through a squib in each of the separate chambers.
- One disadvantage with such a manner of activation is the complexity and expense of the external electronic hardware required to support the proper firing of the various squibs.
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,635 discloses a dual combustion chamber airbag system wherein a delayed ignition signal generator disposed in a first chamber in response to the pressure therein activates a second ignitor to increase inflation.
- the generator is a mechanical device located within the inflator whose delay is determined by the tension of a spring or frictional force of an activator.
- U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,545 Another method of varying the rate of inflation of an airbag is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,545, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
- the inflator is divided into two chambers by a partition.
- Each of the chambers contain gas generant material ignitable by an individually associated initiator or squib.
- An impact sensor determines whether one or both of the squibs are fired on impact, and hence, the rate at which the airbag is filled with gas. If the impact is severe, both squibs will be fired. However, if the impact is less severe, only the downstream squib will be fired.
- the combustion of the downstream squib will proceed upstream through the partition to ignite the gas generant in the upstream chamber, the downstream squib in effect igniting both chambers of generant material.
- the electrical hardware is not designed to fire the second squib after a predetermined delay.
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,998, assigned to the assignee of the present invention discloses an igniter assembly which is operable to cause the combustible gas generant material in a single combustion chamber to ignite in a progressive manner so as to effect inflation of the gas bag slowly initially but more rapidly later as inflation progresses.
- the igniter assembly includes a solid propellant disc between two portions thereof whereby the gas generant material disposed around one portion is ignited immediately, and then, after burn through of the disc, the gas generant material disposed around the other portion is ignited. The time required to burn through the disc is the delay time.
- An object of the present invention is to inexpensively and reliably sequence initiator activation in an airbag inflator to vary the output of the inflators.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide an automotive airbag inflation system which has a variable level output capability that can be pre-wired to the inflator/module assembly with simple hardware to achieve a fixed delay between two or more initiators or squibs of the inflator.
- a further object of the present invention is to provide a drop-in replacement for existing, single stage inflators because no extra wiring is required in the vehicle to support the system.
- the present system can be used with existing circuitry within a vehicle with no special adaptations.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a variable level output system which can effectively simulate the more complex electronic systems used to sequence squibs without the cost and complexity associated with such systems.
- a sequencing system for varying the output of an inflator in a vehicle safety restraint system.
- the inflator has a housing including at least one combustion chamber. Means for generating an inflation gas are disposed in the housing. Ignition means for igniting the gas generating means are disposed in the at least one combustion chamber. A first electric squib is disposed in the inflator housing for initially igniting the ignition means. At least one additional electric squib is disposed in the inflator housing for further igniting the ignition means.
- a delay sequencing unit is disposed outside of the inflator housing for activating the at least one additional electric squib after a predetermined time from the activation of the first electric squib.
- an initial amount of inflation gas is generated and the electrical pulse is delivered to the delay sequencing.
- the electrical pulse is forwarded to the at least one additional electric squib and an additional amount of inflation gas is generated.
- the system of the present invention represents an improvement over prior art designs that require multi-level inflation technology which are supported by additional, in-vehicle electronics.
- the system of the present invention realizes the advantages to be gained with a variable level inflator without the significant additional expense.
- FIG. 1 is a known pressure-time comparison of automotive airbag inflators.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the sequencing system of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of the delay sequencing unit of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the delay sequencing unit of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the delay sequencing unit of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an inflator incorporating the sequencing system of the present invention.
- the present invention provides a system and method for sequencing two or more squibs in an inflator of an airbag.
- a first initiator or squib 12 is wired in parallel with a second squib 14.
- a delay sequencing unit 20, which will be described further herein, is placed electrically between squibs 12 and 14.
- the delay sequencing unit 20 also senses this electrical current pulse via a lead 18 and begins a delay sequence. After a preset, finite period of time, the unit allows the current to flow to the second squib 14 via lead 22. This sequence can be repeated any number of times, as is required by the number of squibs present in the inflator.
- a fuse or fusible link 24, which melts after a predetermined amount of current passes therethrough, ensures that the cicuit leg of first squib 12 opens after firing.
- delay sequencing unit 20 can be made of components which capture and store the charge delivered via lead 18 for the preset time.
- delay sequencing unit 20 can utilize a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor in the configuration illustrated.
- NTC negative temperature coefficient
- sequencing unit 20 can include a relay and closure delay as shown.
- sequencing unit 20 can utilize an integrated circuit timer 26 and switching transistor 28. Current enters circuit timer 26 via lead 25 and exits via lead 27. It should be appreciated that other known electronic components can be used to store the current in unit 20 for the predetermined time.
- the delay time is individually predetermined at the time of manufacture and subsequently cannot be altered.
- the charge hold or delay can be in the range of, for example, 0 to 20 milliseconds. However, the present invention should not be limited to a maximum delay of 20 ms.
- the current is released and travels via lead 22 to the secondary squib 14 which fires and increases the output of the inflator.
- the crash sensing system of the vehicle sends an electrical pulse to squib 12 which fires igniting the ignition material which in turn burns the gas generant material to release an initial amount of inflation gas from the inflator.
- the pulse is also received by the delay sequencing unit 20.
- the delay time is preset and fixed. When the time requirement is met by the unit, the current pulse is allowed to flow through the second squib 14 which then activates the remaining fuel of the inflator to cause an additional, larger output of inflation gas.
- Unit 20 can be harnessed directly to the existing hardware of an inflator because no extra wiring is necessary. Therefore, the inflator 10, which incorporates unit 20 and associated leads, can be a drop-in replacement in existing inflator applications.
- variable level inflation output system of the present invention can be used in an inflator having a single combustion chamber and at least two initiators or squibs.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a fluid fueled inflator 10. It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to a fluid fueled inflator but could also be used in a pyrotechnic inflator, as well as an inflator having two or more combustion chambers. Moreover, further structural details and operation of the inflator do not form a part of the present invention and will not be described in detail herein.
- the inflator 10 includes a combustion chamber 30, a gas storage chamber 32 and a diffuser assembly 34.
- the first squib 12 is disposed in combustion chamber 30 in association with a primary fuel bottle 36.
- Squib 12 is wired to the vehicle collision sensor(s) (not shown) via lead 16.
- Squibs 12 and 14 are also coupled to ground.
- the secondary squib 14, associated with a secondary fuel bottle 38 is connected through delay sequencing unit 20 and leads 18, 22.
- combustion chamber 30 Within the combustion chamber 30 is one or more fluid fuels and one or more oxidants forming a flammable mixture. After the first squib 12 is fired, the fluid fuel in the combustion chamber 30 reacts and burns with the oxidant and the gas in storage chamber 32 to produce the gaseous inflation products. Under certain circumstances it is advantageous to fire second squib 14 after a predetermined delay to produce additional inflation gas.
- the secondary fuel bottle 38 includes a self-oxidizing fuel. When the secondary squib is fired, this fuel is combusted and the rate of gas output is increased.
- a self-oxidizing fuel When the secondary squib is fired, this fuel is combusted and the rate of gas output is increased.
- Such an adaptive output fluid fueled inflator is described in copending patent application Ser. No. 08/810,118, entitled “Adaptive Output Fluid Fueled Airbag Inflator", assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Abstract
Description
Claims (2)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/895,011 US5880534A (en) | 1997-07-16 | 1997-07-16 | Sequencing system for variable level output inflators |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/895,011 US5880534A (en) | 1997-07-16 | 1997-07-16 | Sequencing system for variable level output inflators |
Publications (1)
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US5880534A true US5880534A (en) | 1999-03-09 |
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Family Applications (1)
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US08/895,011 Expired - Fee Related US5880534A (en) | 1997-07-16 | 1997-07-16 | Sequencing system for variable level output inflators |
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Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6106010A (en) * | 1998-03-31 | 2000-08-22 | Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. | Vehicle occupant protection system having a dual stage inflator |
US6131947A (en) * | 1998-01-23 | 2000-10-17 | Trw Inc. | Electrical connector for air bag inflator |
US6168197B1 (en) * | 1999-04-09 | 2001-01-02 | Daimlerchrysler Corporation | Airbag deployment device and control |
US6286863B1 (en) * | 1997-12-05 | 2001-09-11 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Process for deploying air bag in air bag device |
US6386581B1 (en) * | 1999-12-13 | 2002-05-14 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Controlling deployment of air-bag body of head-protection air-bag device |
US20030154876A1 (en) * | 2000-10-31 | 2003-08-21 | Vahan Avetisian | Multi-nuit pyrotechnic initiation system |
US6918611B1 (en) | 2000-09-28 | 2005-07-19 | Delphi Technologies, Inc. | System and method for controlling an inflatable cushion |
US20070057494A1 (en) * | 2004-05-14 | 2007-03-15 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft | Restraining system and method |
JP2010228488A (en) * | 2009-03-26 | 2010-10-14 | Daicel Chem Ind Ltd | Fixing structure of igniter |
US20110221173A1 (en) * | 2010-03-12 | 2011-09-15 | Autoliv Asp, Inc. | Multi-stage inflator |
DE10016167B4 (en) * | 2000-03-31 | 2012-04-26 | Trw Airbag Systems Gmbh & Co. Kg | Gas generator and apparatus for generating gas |
US9376076B2 (en) | 2000-11-15 | 2016-06-28 | Joseph Y. Yoon | Method and apparatus for deployment of an air bag |
Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3966224A (en) * | 1971-11-03 | 1976-06-29 | General Motors Corporation | Multiple inflation rate occupant restraint system |
US3972545A (en) * | 1975-03-10 | 1976-08-03 | Thiokol Corporation | Multi-level cool gas generator |
US4007685A (en) * | 1975-07-30 | 1977-02-15 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Gas generator |
US4213635A (en) * | 1978-11-13 | 1980-07-22 | Toyota Kodosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Two-stage air bag system |
US4358998A (en) * | 1980-02-04 | 1982-11-16 | Thiokol Corporation | Igniter for a pyrotechnic gas bag inflator |
US4998751A (en) * | 1990-03-26 | 1991-03-12 | Morton International, Inc. | Two-stage automotive gas bag inflator using igniter material to delay second stage ignition |
US5033390A (en) * | 1989-11-13 | 1991-07-23 | Morton International, Inc. | Trilevel performance gas generator |
US5109772A (en) * | 1991-01-22 | 1992-05-05 | Morton International, Inc. | Flash ignition system |
US5221109A (en) * | 1992-07-23 | 1993-06-22 | Morton International, Inc. | Airbag inflator having vents to terminate inflation |
US5398966A (en) * | 1993-03-03 | 1995-03-21 | Morton International, Inc. | Dual stage inflator |
US5613702A (en) * | 1996-02-23 | 1997-03-25 | Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. | Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint |
-
1997
- 1997-07-16 US US08/895,011 patent/US5880534A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3966224A (en) * | 1971-11-03 | 1976-06-29 | General Motors Corporation | Multiple inflation rate occupant restraint system |
US3972545A (en) * | 1975-03-10 | 1976-08-03 | Thiokol Corporation | Multi-level cool gas generator |
US4007685A (en) * | 1975-07-30 | 1977-02-15 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Gas generator |
US4213635A (en) * | 1978-11-13 | 1980-07-22 | Toyota Kodosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Two-stage air bag system |
US4358998A (en) * | 1980-02-04 | 1982-11-16 | Thiokol Corporation | Igniter for a pyrotechnic gas bag inflator |
US5033390A (en) * | 1989-11-13 | 1991-07-23 | Morton International, Inc. | Trilevel performance gas generator |
US4998751A (en) * | 1990-03-26 | 1991-03-12 | Morton International, Inc. | Two-stage automotive gas bag inflator using igniter material to delay second stage ignition |
US5109772A (en) * | 1991-01-22 | 1992-05-05 | Morton International, Inc. | Flash ignition system |
US5221109A (en) * | 1992-07-23 | 1993-06-22 | Morton International, Inc. | Airbag inflator having vents to terminate inflation |
US5398966A (en) * | 1993-03-03 | 1995-03-21 | Morton International, Inc. | Dual stage inflator |
US5613702A (en) * | 1996-02-23 | 1997-03-25 | Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. | Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6286863B1 (en) * | 1997-12-05 | 2001-09-11 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Process for deploying air bag in air bag device |
US6131947A (en) * | 1998-01-23 | 2000-10-17 | Trw Inc. | Electrical connector for air bag inflator |
US6106010A (en) * | 1998-03-31 | 2000-08-22 | Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. | Vehicle occupant protection system having a dual stage inflator |
US6168197B1 (en) * | 1999-04-09 | 2001-01-02 | Daimlerchrysler Corporation | Airbag deployment device and control |
US6386581B1 (en) * | 1999-12-13 | 2002-05-14 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Controlling deployment of air-bag body of head-protection air-bag device |
DE10016167B4 (en) * | 2000-03-31 | 2012-04-26 | Trw Airbag Systems Gmbh & Co. Kg | Gas generator and apparatus for generating gas |
US6918611B1 (en) | 2000-09-28 | 2005-07-19 | Delphi Technologies, Inc. | System and method for controlling an inflatable cushion |
US6763764B2 (en) * | 2000-10-31 | 2004-07-20 | Special Devices, Inc. | Multi-unit pyrotechnic initiation system |
US20030154876A1 (en) * | 2000-10-31 | 2003-08-21 | Vahan Avetisian | Multi-nuit pyrotechnic initiation system |
US9376076B2 (en) | 2000-11-15 | 2016-06-28 | Joseph Y. Yoon | Method and apparatus for deployment of an air bag |
US20070057494A1 (en) * | 2004-05-14 | 2007-03-15 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft | Restraining system and method |
US7513526B2 (en) * | 2004-05-14 | 2009-04-07 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft | Restraining system and method |
JP2010228488A (en) * | 2009-03-26 | 2010-10-14 | Daicel Chem Ind Ltd | Fixing structure of igniter |
US20110221173A1 (en) * | 2010-03-12 | 2011-09-15 | Autoliv Asp, Inc. | Multi-stage inflator |
US8047569B2 (en) | 2010-03-12 | 2011-11-01 | Autoliv Asp, Inc. | Multi-stage inflator |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AUTOLIV ASP, INC., UTAH Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MOSSI, G. DEAN;CLARK, MARCUS T.;REEL/FRAME:008705/0749 Effective date: 19970714 |
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STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
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